Pursuing Chartership and Mentoring with APM

By Carl Walker BEng (Hons) ChPP, PMP, MAPM, MIET

My Journey to Chartered Project Professional

I achieved Project Management Professional (PMP) certification with the Project Management Institute (PMI) during my time in Canada, which was more widely accepted in North America at that time. Consequently, I was unaware of Chartered Project Professional, or the Association of Project Management until my return to the UK.

I have always been involved in complex engineering projects throughout my career and the organisations I worked for, had adopted similar frameworks to the APM and PMI, so this was a natural fit.

Based on my previous knowledge and experience, Chartered Project Professional was an obvious choice for me, and I was excited at the possibility of achieving Chartered status, in the Project Management domain.

The two images above are from my time in the Canadian Shipyard (2018) 
and one in my suit following a Chartered Engineers interview.

The Process

Through the assessment for my Chartered application, I realised that I held significant knowledge and experience, which was not always obvious through the certification process.

The application experience was smooth, efficient and professional, and the online support materials and tools were excellent in aiding me to build my application.  

Drawing on Lessons from Experience, I would have benefitted from joining the APM prior to submission of my chartered application, which would have gave me access to a Mentor to assist in my journey, particularly for the interview stage.

The Canadian submarine photos are of HMCS Chicoutimi taken round
her Camber Dive operations in Victoria BC.

What it means to be Chartered

Chartership far exceeds certification and has allowed me to benchmark my knowledge and experience against the highest standard in Project Management.

Being awarded Chartered Project Professional was extremely validating and removed any semblance of self-doubt, reinforcing confidence in my own professional capabilities as a project professional.

Chartered Project Professional is still a relatively young certification, yet I have received nothing but positive feedback from stakeholders. It sends a strong message that I have achieved the highest standard within the profession, and I can confidently walk-the-walk in complex engineering project environments.

Many people I speak to doubt if they meet the requirements to become a Chartered Project Professional.

My advice would be to assess your knowledge and experience using the tools available on the APM site, and if you feel confident, push forward with the application.

If you need assistance or advice, draw on the knowledge and experience of the many mentors within the APM Community who have already trodden the path.  

Becoming an APM Mentor and what it means

Becoming an approved APM mentor was a natural progression for me. I began informally mentoring in my early career while serving in the Royal Navy Submarines, providing advice and guidance to junior colleagues on possible qualifications and career paths to promotion.

I provided similar advice and guidance during my time in Canada, setting up training packages and assisting others to attain Project Management and professional engineering qualifications. I have always enjoyed watching others realise their potential and I am always pleased to assist where I can, to help mentees achieve their goals.

Some would argue there is little difference between a line manager and a mentor, in regard to professional development support they can both provide, but I would disagree with that view, having been a mentor and mentee across at various stages of my 29-year career.

I have found that mentees often find it easier to discuss career aspirations with someone external to their organisation. The benefit of doing so is that a mentor can offer advice, with reduced bias, and this helps to focus on the individual instead of the organisation’s needs. Mentees can then focus more on the requirements of their goal and keep themselves accountable to a mentor, to achieve a more positive outcome.

Achieving ChPP empowered me to become an approved APM Mentor. After almost 3 decades of working in complex engineering project environments, I realised through this process, that I had lots to offer through my own acquired knowledge and experience.

Mentoring is a venture which has always given back to me more than I have put in. I have met some interesting people from many different cultures, industries and backgrounds and this has aided my personal and professional growth.

Mentees have ranged from people just entering the profession, to other experienced candidates, who are actively working towards Chartered Project Professional.

In my role as an APM Mentor, I now feel empowered and privileged to give back to this profession.

If you are thinking of Chartership, or your next career goal, and find yourself unsure of your next move, then requesting a chemistry call with an APM Mentor is a great step to take.

What are you waiting for?

You can find Carl as a mentor in our Mentoring Programme 

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